herceptin only--do I still need my port?

Hi Amy,

 I personally had my port removed when I had my surgery May 1, 07, I had done chemo first. I just finished Feb 13, 08 my Herceptin year and have had no problems with my veins. As a matter of fact, they ran it thru the vein on the back of my right hand and all is well.

 I would ask Onc if you can go ahead and have it removed. I pray to God above that WE ALL never need one again!

Let us know what you decide. Take care.

Susan

what i would consider is that herceptin is a long treatment.  i had a mediport implanted in my chest for all of chemo... i loved it.  it was under the skin so didn't have to worry about infections.  i'm not too familiar with the type of port you have, but i'd say if there are any issues with sticks, ask about the mediport in your chest.   the procedure for inserting it was about 20 min under conscious sedation and went really smooth.  I loved having my port for the entire duration of my treatment- herceptin included

Amy,

I too had a port in my chest just below the collar bone.  I did A/C and 12 Taxol/herceptin have 5 herceptin to go. I didn't really mind  the port because they have problems with my veins.  Last week I called my onc because I was having pain in my chest and it felt like water was moving around my chest.  My onc. told me to go to the ER I knew I wasn't having a heart attack so I called my surgeon she had me come in and they checked my port and it was leaking-I too had been doing yoga.  They took the port out.  My onc said we would try the last 5 without the port.  It is funny the port has been out a week and I feel like a new person.  The port was an all the time reminder I had cancer and was being treated for it.  Now I don't have the visual reminder each day.  Good luck to you.

Debi

I had my port out after becoming septic my first go round with the beast.

I am now on Herceptin, IV with no problems.  I have been told by onc it does not injure your veins.

I also could feel and see my port the whole time I had it.  In thinner women they are harder to hide.  I also now will say it is a war wound.  I hated mine.

Good Luck and my best to all,

Di

I had a lumpectomy and had 19 nodes removed. I'm not able to have iv's in that arm. I'm going to have a port. I'll start my chemo/herceptin soon. I'll be taking the herceptin for a year. Just saw my onc for first time today, sooo this is a lot to absorb. Deedee

i kept mine for the year of herceptin treatments.. was so easy.. i JUST FINISHED AND am getting it out soon.. yeah..

I had my port removed 3 months after it was put in - it never was right and they only used it twice. My first onc told me I HAD to get it because the Navelbine would burn my veins. Soon after the first infection they started using the veins in my one good arm and I never had a problem because the infusion nurses knew to dilute the Navelbine with saline. After the second infection I had the port removed and felt soooo much better! It wasn't just the port under my skin - it was the tubing going up to my neck that bothered me. I've finished with the Navelbine and continue getting Herceptin through my veins with no problem - I'll be done with Herceptin next April. I do have very easy to find/access veins, even though they can only use my one arm.

I feel angry and resentful that my first onc (whom I fired for other reasons) insisted that I get the port in the beginning - now I have an ugly 3 inch scar in my chest - I have enough scars from my free-tram surgery. I cried so much when I had to get that stupid port........it was another blow that cancer hit me with that I didn't expect. I hope and pray I never have to get another one!

If you are planning to get your Herceptin weekly, you might consider keeping it.  If you are getting it every 3 weeks, you can probably go without it so long as your veins are ok.

I did 4 AC and 4 Taxol, dose dense, and then a year of Herceptin with no port at all.  I just refused to get one.  Wasn't having another surgical procedure -- no way, no how.  Onc went along with it.  The AC killed my veins and it became difficult to hit a vein, but I managed to do it.  As another poster said, the onc nurses are the BEST!  I say if you don't want it, have it out.

I had my port out after chemo, before herceptin.  I wanted to show off my new breasts.  Dumb move sort of.

My veins definitely weren't making it through 52 weekly sticks.  So I switched to the three week plan, which I recommend for anyone who wants to get back to life after chemo!!!

Anyway, towards the end, my veins had about enough of being stuck, and for the last 5 tx's I had to use the other arm. Yes, the arm you are not supposed to use.

Thankfully, I have had no issues or concerns with LE.

I finished herceptin in 2006, and I can honestly say that all the veins in my left arm function perfectly-- it's easy to get sticks and blood draws-- I have none of the issues that I had years ago.